Medication

Medication is the most common treatment for controlling seizures and is almost always the first therapy. Medicine controls seizures for about 7 out of 10 people living with epilepsy. There are many different anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) and different medicines help with different kinds of epilepsy/seizures.

It is important to talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of the different AEDs and to never stop or change your medicine without talking to your doctor, as this could cause complications.

Surgery

Epilepsy surgery has been a treatment used to help control seizures for over 100 years. Improvements in modern methods have made epilepsy surgery safer and more available than ever before. A number of brain surgeries can treat certain kinds of seizures that cannot be controlled with medication or other forms of treatment. Some types of epilepsy surgery may lead to seizure freedom and an improved quality of life in up to 80% of people with drug resistant epilepsy.

Epilepsy surgery can be overwhelming to consider. Many people are unsure if surgery can help them, but surgery needs to be considered as an option for people whose seizures are not controlled with medications, dietary therapy, or implanted devices.

Download this factsheet to learn about how epilepsy surgery works, when surgery may be recommended, and what types of surgery may help.

Dietary Therapy

Dietary therapy is an approach to help control seizures, usually in conjunction with seizure medications. The classic ketogenic diet, a special high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet, is prescribed and monitored by a physician and nutritionist and can help control seizures in some people. It can help both children and adults with refractory seizures. Additionally, the Modified Atkins Diet (MAD), which has some similar components to the traditional ketogenic diet, can be effective.

Each diet is personalized for the individual and should be done under medical supervision.

Download this factsheet to learn about the 4 major types of dietary therapy used to treat epilepsy, including the ketogenic diet, Medium-chain triglyceride diet (MCT), Modified Atkins Diet (MAD), and Low Glycemic Index Treatment (LGIT).

Devices

Neuromodulation is another option for controlling seizures. This therapy involves using a device to send small electrical currents to the nervous system.

Medical Cannabis

Colorado is one of many states that allows medical use of cannabis. People living with uncontrolled seizures who have previously attempted other forms of treatment have reported beneficial effects and reduced seizure activity, especially with cannabidiol (CBD) oil. The Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado & Wyoming supports further research on CBD/medical marijuana. Anyone contemplating these options should conduct research to reach an informed treatment decision.

• Medical marijuana (also called medical cannabis) is whole plant marijuana or extracts from the plant used for medical purposes.
• Cannabinoids are substances in cannabis that act on cells in the body, including the brain. The two main cannabinoids used in medicine are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
• Evidence from laboratory studies, anecdotal reports, and small clinical studies over a number of years suggest that cannabidiol (CBD) could potentially help control seizures. The FDA recently approved the use of Epidiolex (a plant-based formulation of CBD) to treat seizures for people 2 years of age and older with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS).
• Medical cannabis, CBD, and THC all have possible side effects. The most common side effects of CBD included sleepiness, diarrhea, fatigue, and decreased appetite.
• CBD also interacts with some other seizure medicines. Careful monitoring of CBD is needed.
• When conventional treatments do not work to control seizures, as is the case for roughly 30% of people with epilepsy, it is not unreasonable to consider CBD oil.

Download this factsheet of frequently asked questions about medical cannabis. 

Learn about the Epilepsy Foundation’s state and federal advocacy efforts on removing barriers to cannabis research and supporting access to medical cannabis (marijuana) in consultation with the treating physician.